How can L.A. SHARES afford to be a
free service?Thanks to the financial and in-kind support
of many local companies, area foundations and certain federal,
state and local partners, L.A. SHARES is able to provide its
services FREE-OF-CHARGE to both donors and recipients. For a
complete list of our supporters, please see our Financial
Supporters and In-Kind Partners.

In fact, there are very few donation opportunities
that we would say "no" to; unless your potential
donation contains Items We
Cannot Accept due to federal, state and local regulations,
or space constraints.

See Items You Can Donate
for more specific information about what you can donate, or
if it's easier, you can call us directly at (213) 485-1097
(Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM), or e-mail us at donate@lashares.org
for clarification.

Is our donation tax-deductible?Because we are a non-profit organization,
any donation you make to L.A. SHARES is fully tax-deductible
as allowed by law. L.A. SHARES will guide you through the process
and handle ALL the paperwork for you.

For more detailed information on tax deductions,
including special added advantages for retailers, distributors
and manufacturers, please see our Tax
Deductions page now.

As with all tax matters, we encourage you
to consult your accountant or tax advisor.

Can we have proof of our tax-deductible
donation?Based upon the written inventory and
the value of your donation that you provide to us, L.A. SHARES
will issue a letter to you acknowledging your tax-deductible
donation.

For more detailed information on tax deductions,
including special added advantages for retailers, distributors
and manufacturers, please see our Tax
Deductions page now.

Where do you store our donations?Your donations of office supplies, arts & crafts materials, and personal care products are stored in one of our two area warehouses. We have a 14,000-sq ft. facility in Wilmington
and a 7,000-sq ft. facility (together with 10 individual 40-ft.
storage containers) in Griffith Park.

Donations of office furniture and office equipment are picked-up directly from the donor.

With over 2,300 members, there is no shortage of organizations eager and willing to quickly pick up your donations.

L.A. SHARES is happy to arrange tours of
our warehouses for prospective donors.

How do we contact L.A. SHARES?Contacting L.A. SHARES is easy. L.A.
SHARES' staff members are available Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM to
speak with you. Call us at (213) 485-1097, or e-mail us at donate@lashares.org.

For a complete listing of contact information,
including e-mail addresses for questions regarding the website
or general feedback, go to Contact
Us now.

Who can use L.A. SHARES?Non-profit organizations exempt from taxation under IRS Section 501(c)3 that are headquartered in the County of Los Angeles and operate programs that directly benefit the residents of the County of Los Angeles.

Elementary through High Schools (both public and private) licensed and located in the County of Los Angeles.

How can L.A. SHARES afford to be a
free service?Thanks to the financial and in-kind support
of many local companies, area foundations and certain federal,
state and local partners, L.A. SHARES is able to provide its
services FREE-OF-CHARGE to both donors and recipients. For a
complete list of our supporters, please see our Financial
Supporters and In-Kind Partners.

How do we become a recipient?If you are a non-profit organization exempt from taxation under IRS Section 501(c)3 that is headquartered in the County of Los Angeles and operates programs that directly benefit the residents of the County of Los Angeles or an elementary through high school (both public and private) licensed and located in the County of Los Angeles, you are eligible to become a recipient.

However, you must first register be registered with L.A. SHARES to participate in our program.

How long do we have to wait to get
something we requested?
We cannot give you an estimated time on how long you'll have
to wait to get something you've requested. L.A. SHARES relies
on donations from the local business community, therefore, both
the type and the quantity of items we have available via Internet lotteries and warehouse "shopping" appointments vary constantly.

However, when the L.A. SHARES relational
database cross matches your Wish List selections with our
available and incoming donations, you will be immediately
notified, via e-mail to come and pick up your requested item(s).

In fact, we ask you to update your organization's Wish List and "Top 20" most needed items on a regular basis to reflect your organization's most current needs so that we can better serve you.

How will we know if an item(s) we've
requested becomes available?If an item(s) you've requested becomes
available, we will notify you, via e-mail, at the e-mail address
you provided in your registration.

Can we call you to find out what's
available?No. Please do not contact L.A. SHARES to inquire about your organization's donation requests. When we have what you need, we'll contact you.

Please understand that we are working with thousands of non-profits and schools and have neither the staff nor time to speak with you by phone. We find e-mail is the most efficient way for us to communicate.

How long do we have to write our thank
you letters?Thank you letters to the businesses and individuals that donated the goods and materials that your organization has received must be written and copies must be sent to L.A. SHARES within 10 days of receiving the donation.

We will provide your organization with the necessary contact information for the thank you letters.

Failure to write thank you letters in a timely manner will result in the immediate termination of your organization from the program.

Thank you letters are the lifeblood of our program and keep the businesses and individuals, our generous donors, giving to you.

How do we contact L.A. SHARES if we
have a question?If you have reviewed this FAQs section and your question is still not answered, you may contact us via e-mail at admin@lashares.org.

Please understand that we are working with thousands of non-profits and schools and have neither the staff nor time to speak with you by phone. We find e-mail is the most efficient way for us to communicate.